“I create contemporary paintings where abstraction and recognizable forms invite people to slow down and look again. I’m interested in what lingers after an experience, the traces of memory, resilience, and presence that continue to shape us. I build each painting through layered marks, erasure, and reconstruction so the process becomes part of the meaning. I hope the work rewards repeated viewing and becomes a place people return to for reflection rather than explanation.”

Working in abstraction and symbolic realism, I draw from contemporary street art, ancient iconography, and mythic memory. Figures, animals, and recurring marks often appear fragmented or eroded, emerging through layers rather than standing fully revealed. The subtle implication invites the viewer into slow observation and personal discovery.

Much of my recent work engages the desert as a formative space, not as a landscape, but as metaphor. Absence, repetition, and negative space function as active elements, creating images that reward attention over time.

Alongside my studio practice, I occasionally create commissioned and public works that engage community, history, and shared memory. These projects inform my work without defining it.”

ABOUT

With a unique blend of street art, classical techniques, and religious iconography, Thien’s work defies conventional boundaries and creates a profound visual dialogue between the sacred and the contemporary.

Having lived in many cultural contexts (Phoenix, New Orleans, and Indianapolis) Thien’s early exposure to the raw, expressive power of street art left an indelible mark on his artistic sensibilities. This influence, combined with a deep appreciation for classical art forms and religious symbolism, informs his distinctive style. His canvases often articulate a vibrant fusion of bold graffiti strokes and stencil work, meticulous classical realism, and evocative spiritual themes, reflecting a rich tapestry of influences that speak to both the past and the present.